Rick Pitino has just squashed rumors about a potential move back to the major conferences. The Iona Gaels basketball head coach is being rumored as a potential target of the Maryland Terrapins, but Pitino has just stated his intent to remain with his current team while wishing the Terps to find “the next great Gary Williams,” in a pretty direct Twitter post Thursday morning.

The University of Maryland is one of the premier institutions of higher learning. It's basketball program can be among the nation’s best. I hope they find the next great Gary Williams. I love coaching at Iona, and I’m totally committed to my players. It will not be me.

The Terrapins are currently being helmed by Danny Manning (former head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons), who took over the position on an interim basis after Mark Turgeon stepped down in December after over a decade of service as the program's bench boss.

Pitino was hired by Iona in 2020 and immediately made an impact, leading the Gaels to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament title and a spot in the Big Dance. The 69-year-old Pitino is on the verge of leading Iona back to the national tournament, as the Gaels have the top seed in the upcoming 2022 MAAC tournament.